The Meaning of Genesis 29:24 Explained

Genesis 29:24

KJV: And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

YLT: and Laban giveth to her Zilpah, his maid-servant, to Leah his daughter, a maid-servant.

Darby: And Laban gave to her Zilpah, his maidservant, to be maidservant to Leah his daughter.

ASV: And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Laban  gave  unto his daughter  Leah  Zilpah  his maid  [for] an handmaid. 

What does Genesis 29:24 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 29:21-35 - Jacob Marries Leah And Rachel
The chief lesson of this paragraph is its illustration of the awful nemesis which accompanies wrongdoing. No thoughtful person can watch the events of history or experience without realizing that we are already standing before the judgment-seat of God, and that His sentences are in process of being executed. Jacob deceived his father, and was himself deceived. "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." What disappointments there are in life! We think that we are to be dowered with Rachel, and lo! Leah is substituted; but in after-days Jacob spoke of Reuben as his might, the beginning of his dignity and excellency. The names of Leah's sons suggest the blessings that accrue through heartbreak. For the Leahs of the world there are great compensations. God remembers and hears them. Brokenhearted and forsaken, they live again in the lives of those whom they have borne either naturally or spiritually. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 29

1  Jacob comes to the well of Haran
9  He becomes acquainted with Rachel
13  Laban entertains him
18  Jacob covenants for Rachel
23  He is deceived by Laban with Leah
28  He marries also Rachel, and serves for her seven years more
32  Leah bears Reuben;
33  Simeon;
34  Levi;
35  and Judah

What do the individual words in Genesis 29:24 mean?

And gave Laban - - Zilpah his maidservant to Leah his daughter [as] a maidservant
וַיִּתֵּ֤ן לָבָן֙ לָ֔הּ אֶת־ זִלְפָּ֖ה שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ לְלֵאָ֥ה בִתּ֖וֹ שִׁפְחָֽה

וַיִּתֵּ֤ן  And  gave 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לָבָן֙  Laban 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: לָבָן 
Sense: son of Bethuel, brother of Rebekah, and father of Leah and Rachel.
לָ֔הּ  - 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
זִלְפָּ֖ה  Zilpah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: זִלְפָּה  
Sense: the Syrian given by Laban to Leah as a handmaid, a concubine of Jacob, mother of Asher and Gad.
שִׁפְחָת֑וֹ  his  maidservant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שִׁפְחָה  
Sense: maid, maid-servant, slavegirl.
לְלֵאָ֥ה  to  Leah 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵאָה  
Sense: daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.
בִתּ֖וֹ  his  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
שִׁפְחָֽה  [as]  a  maidservant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׁפְחָה  
Sense: maid, maid-servant, slavegirl.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 29:24?

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